How to Choose a New Car
What a stupid question, an experienced driver will ask? You choose it by means, objectives, parameters, and so on. That’s great when an experienced car enthusiast, who knows exactly what he wants and what these or other options in a car can give. And what about the amateur who chooses their first car? New or used, automatic or manual, sedan or hatch?
If you are in the process of choosing a car then even the most obvious tips will not be superfluous. Let’s see where to start, choosing a car and how to connect your desires with your capabilities.
New or Used – Which Car to Buy?
First of all, you need to decide which car you want: new or used. Someone prefers a new Hatch C-class, someone for the same money a BMW E38. But we think that the first car is better to buy an inexpensive new one, in order to understand what you want from the car, to gain experience, and then you can experiment with used ones. The nuances of choosing a used car are too extensive.
Budget
After you decide to buy a new car from the salon, you need to decide on your budget. At the same time, you should understand that if you have $10,000 to spend, it does not mean that you can buy a car with a price of $10,000.
Almost every manufacturer has “pleasant” nuances like surcharges for color, which can reach up to $300 or other options. Usually, free paint for a car can only be acrylic and in white, red or black. But for the metallic, you need to pay extra.
To come up with the true cost of a new car, you can boldly add at least 10% of the purchase price.
Cash or Credit?
There is another question that does not have a definite answer since it will depend on your individual situation. But besides paying cash in full for a car, there are options such as car leasing and loan programs from various manufacturers. But remember that if you prefer credit you will be obliged to calculate your costs and factor in that you will be paying interest.
What are the things to consider before buying a car?
After you have decided on a budget, you need to understand the needs you want to car to fulfill. It is logical that a small city car will not suit a family of five persons. Four-wheel drive is a very controversial advantage in the city. Here are the main objectives that you need to pay attention to:
1. Appearance
The car is still a reflection of the “status” of the owner. If this parameter is not important for you then you can choose a car based on practical considerations.
2. Capacity
You need to immediately understand how many passengers will travel in the car most often, especially over long distances. It will be very uncomfortable to travel with a big family in a small hatchback.
3. Trunk
If you don’t have any specific needs to carry goods in the car, you can choose this according to three large packages from the supermarket (weekly purchase) and suitcases which you usually take on vacation. Families with small children should calculate the amount of luggage that equals to a wheelchair.
4. Asphalt or off-road
As practice shows, it is possible to drive off-road once a year and also to drive in deep snow during the winter. The usefulness of an all-wheel-drive car in the city, as well as handling and safety, is greatly exaggerated. In both cases, the experience and the brain of the driver are much more important than all-wheel drive, which still needs to be able to handle.
Specifications of a Car to Check Before Buying It
1. Transmission
Automatic or manual? Everyone decides for himself. You just need to understand two simple things. You can drive a manual in the city with traffic jams, no one has ever died of it. And the lower fuel consumption in the city when driving a manual is really relevant at the moment. But, on the track, the difference is very small.
2. Country of Origin
This largely depends on personal preferences. Legends about Japanese or German quality are no longer relevant, on average, the reliability of cars is the same everywhere. Except, perhaps Chinese cars.
3. Security
Drivers often prefer a Bluetooth radio and a leather interior to airbags and electronic assistants. But you should assess the potential safety of the car by testing EuroNCAP, the number of airbags (front, side, curtain), as well as the availability of additional systems such as ESP (dynamic stabilization), collision avoidance system, and so on.
4. Cost of Ownership
Buying a car is only half the battle. You need to estimate in advance the fuel consumption and maintenance costs. Usually, this information can be obtained from dealers. Based on the potential mileage, we consider how much the maintenance of the car will cost. Also, find information about common problems in the model you’re interested in and the cost of fixing them.
